Suns Tryout Possible Draft Picks

[Gee!]

Lunch break
06/05/2007 09:59 AM

While you are eating lunch today, the Suns will take their first bite out of the 2007 draft class.

Today's group includes USC point guard Gabe Pruitt, Nevada point guard Ramon Sessions and Fresno State forward Dominic McGuire.

Pruitt and McGuire are possible first-round selections in the neighborhood of the Suns' 24th and 29th picks, although Pruitt is more of a sure first-rounder than McGuire. Pruitt and McGuire have agents and Sessions does not.

Sessions had a strong Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando but is considered to be among the top point guards in a weak class of point guards.

Pruitt is intriguing at 6 feet 4 with athleticism but is not a polished point (although he did double his assist-to-turnover ratio) and shot poorly this season.

McGuire was fifth in the nation in blocked shots (3.6 per game) at Fresno State at just 6 feet 8 and 210 pounds. It was his only season there after sitting out a year because of a transfer from California. He played both forward spots because of his ability to defend.

Sessions might be headed back to Nevada but is a consummate point as far as running an offense. His shooting has improved and he rebounds well for a slight 6-foot-3 guard.

 

[asudevil83]

could McGuire be Josh Smith like in a couple years?

 

[azirish]

Lunch break
06/05/2007 09:59 AM

While you are eating lunch today, the Suns will take their first bite out of the 2007 draft class.

Today's group includes USC point guard Gabe Pruitt, Nevada point guard Ramon Sessions and Fresno State forward Dominic McGuire.

Pruitt and McGuire are possible first-round selections in the neighborhood of the Suns' 24th and 29th picks, although Pruitt is more of a sure first-rounder than McGuire. Pruitt and McGuire have agents and Sessions does not.

Sessions had a strong Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando but is considered to be among the top point guards in a weak class of point guards.

Pruitt is intriguing at 6 feet 4 with athleticism but is not a polished point (although he did double his assist-to-turnover ratio) and shot poorly this season.

McGuire was fifth in the nation in blocked shots (3.6 per game) at Fresno State at just 6 feet 8 and 210 pounds. It was his only season there after sitting out a year because of a transfer from California. He played both forward spots because of his ability to defend.

Sessions might be headed back to Nevada but is a consummate point as far as running an offense. His shooting has improved and he rebounds well for a slight 6-foot-3 guard.

I don't think any of these guys are likely to become Suns, although Pruitt at #29 is a possiblilty.

McGuire had a very poor camp at Orlando.

Sessions is expected to return to school.

 

[slinslin]

could McGuire be Josh Smith like in a couple years?

Of course not.

Smith is a physical freak, he has about 2" on McGuire, a lot of wingspan, about 6" vertical leap, alot of muscle and he is still younger than McGuire.

 

[azirish]

Of course not.

Smith is a physical freak, he has about 2" on McGuire, a lot of wingspan, about 6" vertical leap, alot of muscle and he is still younger than McGuire.

Smith is big enough to play inside (8.6 rpg) while McGuire is strictly an SF type who hurt himself badly with his play in Orlando.

 

[PhxGametime]

Pruitt is a nice Prospect, I'd guess Banks would be Traded with other Pick for who knows what but Pruitt has some tools (most of which have already been stated)... butd think Pruitt is more in line for the #24.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Based on the Orlando pre-draft camp and the interview Sessions conducted after the Suns workout, I'd say he's an intelligent dude with a good head on his shoulders. I hope he comes out and is available when we pick. I think this kid has the smarts to be the answer to our back-up point guard problem.

 

[azirish]

I've never seen Sessions, but his draft express write-up didn't wow me:

http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=466

Orlando Pre-Draft Camp: Final Recap
June 4, 2007
In a camp full of solid point guard play, it would be hard to argue that anybody fared better than Nevada underclassman Ramon Sessions. Sessions, much like Jordan on our second team, isn’t the most imposing athlete out there. He has decent quickness, but a slight frame, and was at an overall physical disadvantage against almost every point guard in the camp. Yet it was Sessions who put up the most impressive statistics (13 points per game, 13 total assists compared with just 1 lone turnover). He was able to get to the basket, and did as good a job as any point guard in the camp at creating for his teammates and running the offense.

Sessions clearly has that natural knack for running a team, something he first displayed as a freshman. After injuries derailed his sophomore year, Sessions got back on track this season, showing major improvement as a scorer. His mark was all over this camp, and he does it with solid decision making, and a patient, probing way of making a defense commit to stopping him or stopping the pass. At this point Sessions would probably rather pull defenses toward him and use his excellent court vision to find teammates, but he is improving with the pull-up jumper and a creative array of floaters and other finishing moves if he makes his way into the lane.

In short, Sessions did exactly what the camp is intended to do for underclassmen. He had nothing to lose by coming, and now GM’s have an extended, first-hand impression of his game. Now Sessions needs to go back to school, and work on shoring up a few weak points that will keep him out of the first round in 2007. Sessions has the stature and patient, yet dangerous play style of a young Tony Parker, but Parker was always on a different level in terms of quickness and strength. Sessions needs to spend the rests of the summer in the weight room, continue to polish up his shooting and scoring game, and put in a solid senior season at Nevada. If he puts in the work this summer, Sessions will have significantly benefited from his decision to attend the camp.

 

[JoRain]

I believe, that there was a rumor, that Pruitt already has a promise from the Spurs.

 

[azirish]

I believe, that there was a rumor, that Pruitt already has a promise from the Spurs.

I heard that too on the Jonathan Givony podcast on draft express.

Givony seemed pretty skeptical of the rumor, saying Pruitt did not seem to be a Spur type player. If nothing else, at 6'4" 170 he is not a physical defender and is not very polished. However, he is very fast, so he's probably more of a Suns type player, though not to my taste.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

I've never seen Sessions, but his draft express write-up didn't wow me:

Agreed, but I don't really expect a late 1st to 2nd round prospect to wow. That said, sounds like he at least has a chance at becoming a servicable backup PG; maybe even more further along in his career.

 

[Ronin]

Suns resume their draft workouts today with four more players — Wisconsin forward Alando Tucker (19.9 points and 5.4 rebounds as a senior), Ohio State guard Daequan Cook (who could join Buckeye teammates Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. as first-round draft picks this season), Lithuanian shooting guard Renaldas Seibutis (a 47 percent shooter from 3-point range) and USC guard Lodrick Stewart.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/91118

 

[sunsfn]

There is also a report the suns are trying to move up, and are having Rodney Stuckey in for a work-out.

Some write-ups on Stuckey, Alando Tucker, Daequan Cook, & Renaldas Seibutis. Nothing on Stewart. (Scroll down)


http://nbadrafter.tripod.com/

 

[Russ Smith]

I heard that too on the Jonathan Givony podcast on draft express.

Givony seemed pretty skeptical of the rumor, saying Pruitt did not seem to be a Spur type player. If nothing else, at 6'4" 170 he is not a physical defender and is not very polished. However, he is very fast, so he's probably more of a Suns type player, though not to my taste.

FWIW that same rumor was on uschoops the other day. I didn't buy it at the time because it was a guy arguing that he didn't really go pro because he was ineligible, he left because he got a promise from San Antonio and once he got that, he dropped out of school and hired an agent. I took that as spin by a USC fan who didn't want to believe the kid was ineligible again and that's why he left.

 

[Heucrazy]

Agreed, but I don't really expect a late 1st to 2nd round prospect to wow. That said, sounds like he at least has a chance at becoming a servicable backup PG; maybe even more further along in his career.

Sessions would be a servicable backup. The kid is fast and has good reflexes.

 

[slinslin]

Sessions would be a servicable backup. The kid is fast and has good reflexes.

Marcus Banks has that as well, why does anyone think another backup PG will do any better, there are no Steve Nashesque backup players that can keep up what he is doing when he goes to the bench..

 

[Mainstreet]

Can anyone say that Nash showed he was going to be a MVP caliber player or even a star when he did his first stint with the Suns?

Also, how many people thought Avery Johnson was going to be a solid NBA PG out of the gate?

I must admit I didn't appreciate Steve Nash's ability early on. However, there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth on my part while the Suns watched Avery Johnson bounce from team to team trying to catch on. I liked Avery long before his SA days.

All I'm saying, there may very well be a high caliber future starting PG late in the NBA draft that many teams are going to dismiss as only a backup that could help Phoenix now and into the future. I must admit that Sessions and Pruitt intrigue me at this early date.

 

[azirish]

Sessions would be a servicable backup. The kid is fast and has good reflexes.

Draft Express is pretty sure he'll return to school.

BTW, last season Stuckey had more assists per game than Sessions.

 

[Louis]

So anybody see what Sessions did last night?

20/24 versus the Bulls in a 135-151 Milwaukee loss.

Averaging 13 apg over his last 6. 9.8 apg for the month of April.

Good for him.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

So anybody see what Sessions did last night?

20/24 versus the Bulls in a 135-151 Milwaukee loss.

Averaging 13 apg over his last 6. 9.8 apg for the month of April.

Good for him.

Based on the Orlando pre-draft camp and the interview Sessions conducted after the Suns workout, I'd say he's an intelligent dude with a good head on his shoulders. I hope he comes out and is available when we pick. I think this kid has the smarts to be the answer to our back-up point guard problem.

I wanted the Suns to draft him! 13 points, 13 assists, 5-1/2 boards and 1.7 steals per game in the last 7 games as a starter for the Bucks.